Prognostic MRI parameters in acute traumatic cervical spinal cord injury.

Purpose: The aim of this study is to estimate the prognostic value of some features documented on preoperative MRI study in patients with acute cervical spinal cord injury.

Methods: The study was conducted in patients operated for cervical spinal cord injury (cSCI) from April 2014 to October 2020. The quantitative analysis on preoperative MRI scans included: length of the spinal cord intramedullary lesion (IMLL the canal diameter at the level of maximal spinal cord compression (MSCC) and the presence of intramedullary hemorrhage.

Radiomics vs radiologist in prostate cancer. Results from a systematic review.

Purpose: Radiomics in uro-oncology is a rapidly evolving science proving to be a novel approach for optimizing the analysis of massive data from medical images to provide auxiliary guidance in clinical issues. This scoping review aimed to identify key aspects wherein radiomics can potentially improve the accuracy of diagnosis, staging, and extraprostatic extension in prostate cancer (PCa).

Methods: The literature search was performed on June 2022 using PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane Central Controlled Register of Trials.

HER2 Expression in Bladder Cancer: A Focused View on Its Diagnostic, Prognostic, and Predictive Role.

Bladder cancer (BC) is a heterogeneous disease from a molecular, morphological, and clinical standpoint. HER2 is a known oncogene involved in bladder carcinogenesis. Assessing HER2 overexpression as a result of its molecular changes in a routine pathology practice using immunohistochemistry might be a useful adjunct in several scenarios, namely (1) to correctly identify flat urothelial lesions and inverted urothelial lesions in the diagnostic setting; (2) to provide prognostic hints in both non-muscle invasive (NMI) and muscle invasive (MI) tumors, thus supplementing risk stratification tools, especially when evaluating higher-risk tumors such as those with variant morphology; (3) to improve antibody panels as a surrogate marker of BC molecular subtyping.

Ki67 as a Predictor of Response to PARP Inhibitors in Platinum Sensitive BRCA Wild Type Ovarian Cancer: The MITO 37 Retrospective Study.

Background: There is compelling need for novel biomarkers to predict response to PARP inhibitors (PARPi) in BRCA wild-type (WT) ovarian cancer (OC).

Methods: MITO 37 is a multicenter retrospective study aiming at correlating Ki67 expression at diagnosis with a clinical outcome following platinum treatment and PARPi maintenance. Clinical data were collected from high grade serous or endometroid BRCAWT OC treated with niraparib or rucaparib maintenance between 2010-2021 in 15 centers.

Stress responses in high-fidelity simulation and standard simulation training among medical students.

Background: Simulation has been recognized as a shift in healthcare education that can improve skills and patient safety and outcomes. High-fidelity simulation of critical medical situations can be a source of stress among participants that can interfere with students' abilities leading to unexpected emotional responses. The aim of this study is to determine if two simulation methods, high-fidelity (HF) and procedural simulation (PS), may be associated with stress responses at a self-perceived and biological level (salivary cortisol variations), and to compare stress levels of the two different simulation method.

Impact of COVID-19 on the cardiovascular health of women: a review by the Italian Society of Cardiology Working Group on 'gender cardiovascular diseases'.

The coronavirus disease 19 (COVID-19), due to coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection, presents with an extremely heterogeneous spectrum of symptoms and signs. COVID-19 susceptibility and mortality show a significant sex imbalance, with men being more prone to infection and showing a higher rate of hospitalization and mortality than women. In particular, cardiovascular diseases (preexistent or arising upon infection) play a central role in COVID-19 outcomes, differently in men and women.

ZO-1 expression in normal human macula densa: Immunohistochemical and immunofluorescence investigations.

The macula densa (MD) is an anatomical structure having a plaque shape, placed in the distal end of thick ascending limb of each nephron and belonging to juxtaglomerular apparatus (JGA). The aim of the present investigation is to investigate the presence of ZO-1, a specific marker of tight juncions (TJs), in MD cells. Six samples of normal human renal tissue were embedded in paraffin for ZO-1 expression analysis by immunohistochemical and immunofluorescence techniques.

Efficacy of Small versus Large-Bore Chest Drain in Pleural Infection: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Background: Pleural infection represents a significant clinical challenge worldwide. Although prompt drainage of pleural fluid is thought to play a key role in pleural infection management, the optimal size of intrapleural catheter has yet to be defined.

Objectives: The aim of this systematic review and meta-analysis was to summarize data on efficacy and complications of small-bore drain (SBD), defined as ≤14F, in comparison to large-bore drain (LBD) in patients with pleural infection.

A real-world analysis of PD1 blockade from the Rete Ematologica Pugliese (REP) in patients with relapse/refractory Hodgkin's lymphoma.

Checkpoint inhibitors have significantly changed the prognosis of patients with relapsing refractory classical Hodgkin's lymphoma (cHL), demonstrating excellent results in heavily pretreated patients. However, there is still limited data on the real-world experience with PD-1 inhibitors in cHL. Within the context of the Apulian hematological network (Rete Ematologica Pugliese, REP), we performed a retrospective, multicenter analysis of 66 patients with relapsing refractory cHL who had received PD-1 inhibitors in the non-trial setting.

Left ventricular global function index is associated with myocardial iron overload and heart failure in thalassemia major patients.

Purpose: The left ventricular global function index (LVGFI) is a comprehensive marker of cardiac performance, integrating LV morphology with global function. We explored the cross-sectional association of LVGFI with myocardial iron overload (MIO), LV ejection fraction (LVEF), myocardial fibrosis, and heart failure (HF) in β-thalassemia major (TM) patients.

Methods: We considered 1352 adult TM patients (708 females, 32.

SARS-CoV-2 viral entry and replication is impaired in Cystic Fibrosis airways due to ACE2 downregulation.

As an inherited disorder characterized by severe pulmonary disease, cystic fibrosis could be considered a comorbidity for coronavirus disease 2019. Instead, current clinical evidence seems to be heading in the opposite direction. To clarify whether host factors expressed by the Cystic Fibrosis epithelia may influence coronavirus disease 2019 progression, here we describe the expression of SARS-CoV-2 receptors in primary airway epithelial cells.

Prognosis of Extended-Spectrum-Beta-Lactamase-Producing Agents in Emphysematous Pyelonephritis-Results from a Large, Multicenter Series.

Background: Emphysematous pyelonephritis (EPN) is a necrotizing infection of the kidney and surrounding tissues with significant mortality. We aimed to assess the clinical factors and their influence on prognosis in patients being managed for EPN with and without ESBL-producing bacteria and to identify if those with EPN due to ESBL infections fared any different.

Methods: A retrospective analysis was performed on patients with EPN diagnosis from 22 centers across 11 countries (between 2013 and 2020).

Prognosis and Survival in Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis in the Era of Antifibrotic Therapy in Italy: Evidence from a Longitudinal Population Study Based on Healthcare Utilization Databases.

The aim was to evaluate the determinants of acute exacerbation (AE) and death in new cases of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) using administrative databases in the Marche Region. Adults at their first prescription of antifibrotics or hospitalization with a diagnosis of IPF occurring in 2014-2019 were considered as new cases. Multiple Cox regression was used to estimate the risk of AE and of all-cause mortality adjusted by demographic and clinical characteristics, stratifying patients according to antifibrotic treatment.

Recovery of right ventricular function after intermediate-risk pulmonary embolism: results from the multicentre Pulmonary Embolism International Trial (PEITHO)-2.

Background: Right ventricular (RV) function plays a critical role in the pathophysiology and acute prognosis of pulmonary embolism (PE). We analyzed the temporal changes of RV function in the cohort of a prospective multicentre study investigating if an early switch to oral anticoagulation in patients with intermediate-risk PE is effective and safe.

Methods: Echocardiographic and laboratory examinations were performed at baseline (PE diagnosis), 6 days and 6 months.

Indications, preferences, global practice patterns and outcomes in retrograde intrarenal surgery (RIRS) for renal stones in adults: results from a multicenter database of 6669 patients of the global FLEXible ureteroscopy Outcomes Registry (FLEXOR).

Purpose: To collect a multicentric database on behalf of TOWER research group to assess practice patterns and outcomes of retrograde intrarenal surgery (RIRS) for kidney stones.

Methods: Inclusion criteria: age ≥ 18 years, normal renal/calyceal system anatomy, calculi of any size, number, and position.

Study Period: January 2018 and August 2021.

Biomarkers of cell damage, neutrophil and macrophage activation associated with in-hospital mortality in geriatric COVID-19 patients.

Background: The risk for symptomatic COVID-19 requiring hospitalization is higher in the older population. The course of the disease in hospitalised older patients may show significant variation, from mild to severe illness, ultimately leading to death in the most critical cases. The analysis of circulating biomolecules involved in mechanisms of inflammation, cell damage and innate immunity could lead to identify new biomarkers of COVID-19 severity, aimed to improve the clinical management of subjects at higher risk of severe outcomes.

The objective evaluation of triamcinolone acetonide efficacy in keloids management using Antera3D® imaging system.

Background: Keloids are pathological scars characterized by nodular fibrous tissue that extends beyond the border of initial damage. These lesions do not spontaneously regress and can cause cosmetic disfigurements and functional disabilities. IntraLesional Injection of Triamcinolone Acetonide (ILITA), alone or in combination with other therapy, is one of the first-line treatment modalities.

Second-line therapy in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) patients with germline BRCA1-2 pathogenic variants (gBRCA1-2pv).

Background: Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) harbouring germline BRCA1-2 pathogenic variants (gBRCA1-2pv) is a distinct nosological entity. Information on second-line therapy (2LT) outcome in this setting is lacking.

Methods: Data of gBRCA1-2pv metastatic PDAC patients treated with chemotherapy were collected.

Historical eye: from traditional to endobronchial ultrasound-guided needle aspiration and beyond.

Purpose Of Review: In the history of bronchoscopy, the advent of flexible transbronchial needle aspiration (TBNA) before and, subsequently, of endobronchial ultrasound-guided transbronchial needle aspiration (EBUS-TBNA), have represented fundamental events, as they have significantly and definitively changed interventional pulmonology's role in diagnostic and therapeutic work-up of most of thoracic diseases.Purpose of this historical review is to retrace the main stages that have contributed to the development of these two techniques.

Recent Findings: TBNA allowed the bronchoscopists to overcome the barrier of the tracheobronchial wall and to obtain samples from hilar-mediastinal lesions.

Neuronal nitric oxide synthase positive neurons in the human corpus callosum: a possible link with the callosal blood-oxygen-level dependent (BOLD) effect.

Brain functions have been investigated in the past decades via the blood-oxygen-level dependent (BOLD) effect using functional magnetic resonance imaging. One hypothesis explaining the BOLD effect involves the Nitric Oxide (NO) gaseous neurotransmitter, possibly released also by cells in the corpus callosum (CC). The eventual presence of NO releasing neurons and/or glial cells in the CC can be assessed by immunohistochemistry.

Antihypertensive treatment changes and related clinical outcomes in older hospitalized patients.

Background: Hypertension management in older patients represents a challenge, particularly when hospitalized.

Objective: The objective of this study is to investigate the determinants and related outcomes of antihypertensive drug prescription in a cohort of older hospitalized patients.

Methods: A total of 5671 patients from REPOSI (a prospective multicentre observational register of older Italian in-patients from internal medicine or geriatric wards) were considered; 4377 (77.

The effect of combined drug therapy in lateral fragility fractures of the femur: a prospective observational study.

Objective: Due to a growing number of lateral fragility fractures, and their high economic and social impact, we evaluated the combined drug therapy effectiveness in lateral fragility femur fractures treated by intramedullary nailing surgery comparing the clinical and radiological results of two groups of patients.

Patients And Methods: From May 2019 to March 2020, we carried out a prospective observational study comparing the results of patients with femoral lateral fractures treated by the same intramedullary nail (PFNA Synthes®) using Clodronic acid and Vitamin D (study group, 25 patients) compared to patients with the same fractures treated with Vitamin D alone (control group, 25 patients). The evaluations were based on bone biochemical markers (serum calcium level, serum phosphate level, parathyroid hormone, Vitamin D, serum C-terminal telopeptide), Visual Analogic Scale and HHS (Harris Hip Score) score, and femur densitometric views.